University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, August 27
Provo, UT
8:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
BYU
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Mac Brown
Minnesota Ready for Pair of Matches Against No. 15 BYU and St. Thomas
8/26/2026 11:43:00 AM | Soccer
The Gophers will face the Cougars for their first road trip of the season
MINNEAPOLIS - The Golden Gophers return to the pitch this weekend with a split home-and-away pair of matches. Minnesota will first face No. 15 BYU in Provo, Utah, on Thursday and will return to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Sunday to host St. Thomas.
Minnesota (2-0-1, 0-0-0 B1G) vs. No. 15 BYU (2-1-0, 0-0-0 Big 12)
Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
Stream: ESPN+
Kick Off: 8 p.m. CT
Location: South Field (Provo, Utah)
Minnesota (2-0-1, 0-0-0 B1G) vs. St. Thomas (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Summit League)
Date: Sunday, Aug. 30
Stream: B1G+
Kick Off: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
Promotions: Kid's Day
Last Time Out
Minnesota took care of business last Thursday, earning a 2-1 win over North Dakota State in Fargo. Senior forward Ava Westlund's brace tied and won the match for the Gophers. The Maroon and Gold offense led in shots (18-4), shots on goal (6-1) and corner kicks (6-3).
Hitting the Road!
The Gophers' first road trip of the season takes them to Provo on Thursday to face No. 15 BYU. The Cougars lead the overall series 3-0-0, with their first meeting taking place in 2000.
Last season, BYU traveled to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium and defeated the Gophers 3-1. Caroline Birdsell scored Minnesota's lone goal.
Thursday's game is the first top-15 opponent Minnesota has competed against since tying No. 9 UCLA 0-0 on Oct. 12, 2025. The last time the Gophers defeated a top-15 opponent during the regular season was a 2-1 win over No. 11 Iowa on Oct. 27, 2024.
The Tommies are in Town
Sunday's contest marks the fifth meeting in a series that dates to 1993 between Minnesota and St. Thomas. The Gophers hold a 4-0 record over the Tommies, with their most recent win coming last season.
This year, St. Thomas is led by first-year head coach Gretta Macdonald, who previously spent 12 seasons as the head coach at St. Cloud State University. Macdonald was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year in both 2023 and 2025. During the last three seasons, Macdonald led St. Cloud State to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and the program's first NSIC championship in 2023.
Sunday Promotions
It's Kid's Day on Sunday as the Gophers take on St. Thomas. Come out and pick up your Gopher Soccer face tattoo to show your Maroon & Gold pride!
Key Notes:
Minnesota (2-0-1, 0-0-0 B1G) vs. No. 15 BYU (2-1-0, 0-0-0 Big 12)
Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
Stream: ESPN+
Kick Off: 8 p.m. CT
Location: South Field (Provo, Utah)
Minnesota (2-0-1, 0-0-0 B1G) vs. St. Thomas (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Summit League)
Date: Sunday, Aug. 30
Stream: B1G+
Kick Off: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
Promotions: Kid's Day
Last Time Out
Minnesota took care of business last Thursday, earning a 2-1 win over North Dakota State in Fargo. Senior forward Ava Westlund's brace tied and won the match for the Gophers. The Maroon and Gold offense led in shots (18-4), shots on goal (6-1) and corner kicks (6-3).
Hitting the Road!
The Gophers' first road trip of the season takes them to Provo on Thursday to face No. 15 BYU. The Cougars lead the overall series 3-0-0, with their first meeting taking place in 2000.
Last season, BYU traveled to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium and defeated the Gophers 3-1. Caroline Birdsell scored Minnesota's lone goal.
Thursday's game is the first top-15 opponent Minnesota has competed against since tying No. 9 UCLA 0-0 on Oct. 12, 2025. The last time the Gophers defeated a top-15 opponent during the regular season was a 2-1 win over No. 11 Iowa on Oct. 27, 2024.
The Tommies are in Town
Sunday's contest marks the fifth meeting in a series that dates to 1993 between Minnesota and St. Thomas. The Gophers hold a 4-0 record over the Tommies, with their most recent win coming last season.
This year, St. Thomas is led by first-year head coach Gretta Macdonald, who previously spent 12 seasons as the head coach at St. Cloud State University. Macdonald was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year in both 2023 and 2025. During the last three seasons, Macdonald led St. Cloud State to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and the program's first NSIC championship in 2023.
Sunday Promotions
It's Kid's Day on Sunday as the Gophers take on St. Thomas. Come out and pick up your Gopher Soccer face tattoo to show your Maroon & Gold pride!
Key Notes:
- Undefeated: Minnesota is undefeated through its first three games with a 2-0-1 record.
- Goal Differential: The Gophers have outscored opponents 7-2, averaging 2.33 goals per game while holding opponents to 0.67 goals per game.
- Under Control: The Maroon and Gold lead their opponents in total shots by a margin of 66-17 (averaging 22 shots per game compared with their opponents' 5.7) and shots on goal 30-9.
- Individual Standouts: Westlund leads the team with five total points (two goals, one assist) and a game-winning goal, while goalkeeper Sarah Martin holds a 0.69 goals-against average and a .778 save percentage.
Thursday, August 20
Sunday, August 16
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13